In a post on its Support pages, Microsoft confirmed the move saying: "This error occurs because new processor generations require the latest Windows version for support".

Confirmation that this previously announced policy will soon take effect came via an article recently published to Microsoft's support website. With Windows 10 Creators Update merely weeks away, the company is trying to use every means possible to get people away from older versions, especially Windows 7, which still dominates the PC world with more than 40% market share.

Personal computers powered by the latest processors from AMD, Intel and Qualcomm will be blocked from receiving security updates for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, according to the support document. The question is how many Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users read the company's blog posts-many of which are unlikely to appeal to the average consumer-or care about the company's seemingly arbitrary decision not to update now supported operating systems to support the latest-and-greatest processors.

The company's previous methods of convincing users to make the jump have upset some, and this policy is sure to ruffle feathers as well. Microsoft first announced in January 2016 that it would support only new silicon with Windows 10 and older operating systems would be restricted to older processors. Either of these will be triggered when an individual tries to obtain updates from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1.

Apparently, Microsoft is halting upgrade support for those operating systems when combined with the newer hardware. But instead users will be updated to new versions of what I expect will become simply "Windows" in the future.

The bottom line? If you're building or upgrading a system around Kaby Lake or Ryzen, it's pretty much Windows 10 or bust. So they've made a decision to roll out a processor check in Windows Update on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, preventing users from download updates if their system contains a Kaby Lake or Ryzen CPU.

Systems that aren't on the supported list will lose access to updates for older Windows versions as of July 17, 2018.

This is yet another piece of proof that Windows 10 is critical to Microsoft's plans for 2017 and beyond.